Shawn Mercer takes vacant Solon seat

Shawn Mercer nabbed a vacant seat on the Solon City Council Tuesday night despite a recent bid by his only opponent for write-in votes.

Mercer garnered 802 votes among 1,654 registered voters in Solon, while 68 voters cast write-in ballots for the vacant seat expiring in 2019, according to unofficial results from the Johnson County Auditor's Office.

Earlier this month, former Councilor Dale Snipes, 59, a truck driver for United Natural Foods, announced he would also seek the seat, which he resigned from in June citing conflicts with his work schedule. However, the deadline had passed to add his name to the ballot.

The auditor's office said Wednesday that 36 voters Tuesday night cast write-in ballots for Snipes, but that total did not include early voting data.

Voters also cast 896 ballots for Lynn Morris, who ran unopposed for a different vacant seat that expires in 2017.

Among registered voters in Solon, roughly 57 percent, or 946, turned out to vote, according to the auditor's results.

Mercer, 44, said in an interview Wednesday that he is excited to get started. He said he is preparing by diving into Solon's budget and getting updates from Solon Mayor Steve Stange on the council's meeting schedule and agendas.

Mercer has lived in Solon since 2003 with his wife, Nicole Pizzini. They have three kids, including two students at Lakeview Elementary. Mercer has a bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University in public administration, and a master's degree in security management.

Mercer said he hopes to look at expanding Solon's recreation opportunities and reaching diverse populations with the city's entertainment options.

"Recreation is a very big thing for me," he said.

Mercer said projects underway to help keep up with the city's growth, including widening streets and adding a streetlight, also are on his radar.

Mercer said he was not surprised Snipes' bid for write-in votes failed to upset his own campaign, noting write-in candidates face challenges with name recognition even in a small community like Solon.

“I think he did the best that he could," Mercer said.

Snipes also said the results, while disappointing, did not surprise him, and he knew his write-in candidacy would be a challenge. He said he is considering running for the council again and would make sure his name appears on the ballot in the future.

Snipes said he has no hard feelings about the race, noting he appreciates Mercer's willingness to serve.